In Memoriam Andrew Graham Yooll (1944 - 2019)
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Saturday, July 20, 2019 SPECIAL EDITION IN MEMORIAM ANDREW GRAHAM YOOLL (1944 - 2019) WITH COLUMNS FROM: ROBERT COX - JAMES NEILSON - MicHAEL SOLTYS - DAN NEWLAND - HARRY INGHAM - MARCELO J. GARCÍA - RACHAEL JOLLEY - JOHN HUNTER - jiMMY BURNS - CATHERINE KIRBY - BARNABY ROGERSON - JAMES GRAINGER - AGusTINO FONTEVEccHIA Saturday,2 July 20, 2019 Saturday, July 20, 2019 Saturday,2 March 23, 2019 Saturday,Saturday, July July 20, 13,2019 20192 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: JAMES GRAINGER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: AGUSTINO FONTEVECCHIA ART DIRECTION: JOAQUIN TEMES WEBSITE: WWW.BATIMES.COM.AR CONTACT US AT [email protected] A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Commemoration, contemplation and celebration reetings dear reader and London and I found myself writing his But as I say, this is not an authora- Without their flexibility, support, love thank you for joining us. obituary, which was a strange feeling to tative account of his life. It is merely a and inspiration, it would be impossible It was a just a couple say the least. humble addition to the world of Andrew to put together this publication. of weekends ago that we I don’t intend to repeat that article here Graham-Yooll, to help us remember him --- were struck by the sad and I am most certainly not the person a little more vividly in the years to come. On a personal note, this week I’ve news that the late, great to tell you about Andrew’s accomplis- Argentine journalism has had it’s fair thought back a little to those hazy days GAndrew Graham-Yooll had passed away hments and achievements. There are share of giants over the years. Unfortu- after the closure of the Buenos Aires in London. Today’s edition of the Buenos plenty of people more qualified to do nately, it has lost another great son. Herald, when my wife and I (along the Aires Times, our 100th, is designed to that, plenty who knew him more deeply --- other staff who worked there) were con- honour and pay tribute to this brilliant, than I did – there are even people who Speaking of legends of the press, templating the fact of being jobless and influential and courageous journalist, a owe their lives to his actions. So I deci- there’s a few special thank yous I should figuring what the hell we were going to fantastic writer whose words and pre- ded to try and find as many friends and dole out given we’ve reached a century do now. sence we were lucky enough to have former colleagues as I could. of editions, especially to our former It was a strange time, and although grace our pages on many occasions over This edition does not recall all of Herald stalwarts, namely Robert Cox, there was concern over what lie ahead, the past two years. Andrew’s life and it does not attempt to James Neilson, Michael Soltys and, of my overwhelming feeling was anger Like most, Andrew was someone that do so. Instead it seeks to tell you a little course, Andrew. They all lent us their at the way that legendary newspaper I knew of well before meeting him. It’s what kind of person he was. support in our earliest days at a had been neglected and allowed to fall almost an understatement to say his re- We asked a number crucial time. so far. putation preceded him, given his stan- of people who had I would also like to Just a few afternoons on, I received a ding in the world of journalism and his worked or known thank the nucleus call and agreed to take a gamble. Now, achievements. Occasionally, over the him for years to of us that produce almost two years later, there is a huge years, I would bump into him at events share their ex- the paper each pile of newspapers on the desk next to and share a drink. In my mind, I asso- periences, week – Agustino me and a website that’s serving news to ciate him with his hearty chuckle and to share Fontevecchia, the public seven days a week. asthma-tinged laugh. their sto- Joaquín Temes It would be remiss to say that it has It was only in the last few years that I ries, their and the afo- not been a struggle, though. Gaining an got to spend some time with him and get anecdotes, rementioned audience – and retaining it – is difficult to know him a little. When we set up the their me- Michael – and enough, let alone attempting to grow Times, at very short notice, he was one mories. the team at and attract new readers from a base of of the first to agree to contribute each And that Editorial Per- zero. But over the past 12 months, howe- week. I will forever be thankful for that. is what we fil SA. ver, we have put out 99 editions that have I was desperate to have him onboard, present I would al- been seen by more than 20,000 people not only because of his writing and his to you so like to each week. More than 600,000 people reputation, but also for his knowledge today t a ke t h i s have visited our website over the last about Argentine history and the British as our opportuni- year and we’ve recorded more than 2.7 community here. I was seeking colum- 1 0 0 t h ty to thank million pageviews since July last year. nists with perspective, who could put edition, all the jour- And we’ve done it all with practically no things in context and link the past, pre- in tribute na lists and budget, whatsoever. Without paying for sent and the future – while also telling a to this titan writers that ha- a single advertisement. few funny stories along the way. It was a of journa- ve contributed When we decided to first start this pu- great support to know I had his backing. lism. to our pages to blication, I told my wife I thought we’d In recent years, we often exchanged It is im- date. There are last 10 editions. Today, one month shy of emails about his columns and then, p o s s i b l e too many of you two years on, there is now a 100th edi- every Wednesday, a piece would arrive to know a to list, but you tion of the Buenos Aires Times. in my inbox, punctual as you like. Then p e r s o n i n all know who Whichever way you paint it, in I had the pleasure of editing him. ever y way you are. All of Argentina’s troubled and increasingly For the past few months, I’ve been and I’m sure you have helped shrinking media market, I guess just thinking about what to do for our 100th many readers shape our publi- surviving is a victory in a way. edition. I couldn’t come up with an idea will have their cation and its identi- Thank you for reading over the past 23 I liked, no matter how hard I tried. I had own stories ty in some way. months. We hope you continue to do so. almost settled on the idea of doing a re- to tell too, as And finally, I just want Here’s (hopefully) to 100 more. gular newspaper, yet switching out the undoubte- to say thank you to my Yours sincerely, editorial for ‘A letter from the editor,’ as dly will his family, who have I did in our first edition, to explain and loved ones put up with me JAMES GRAINGER assess what we’ve done over the last two and family working too EDITOR-IN-CHIEF years. But then, Andrew passed away in members. many hours. [email protected] he Graham-Yooll family and the Argentine Ambassador in the United Memorial TKingdom will host a memorial service to celebrate the life of Andrew Graham-Yooll in London next Monday, July 22. The following day, his planned address to the Anglo-Argentine society, titled ‘A Liitle History of service the Buenos Aires Herald: Pate, Brandy, and Bomb,’ will be delivered by a family member, ensuring one of his final creations finally sees the light of in London day. Our thanks to family and his friends for passing on this information. The Buenos Aires Times is a publication produced by Diario Perfil SA. Editor-in-chief: James Grainger. Executive Director: Agustino Fontevecchia. CEO: Gustavo González. Founder: Jorge Fontevecchia. Honorary editors: Robert Cox, James Neilson, Andrew Graham- Yooll*, Michael Soltys. Postal address: California 2715, CABA, CSA C1289, Argentina. Telephone: (+54-11) 5985-4921. Website: www.batimes.com.ar Email: [email protected] Saturday,Saturday, July July 13, 2019 20, 2019 3 3 OBITUARIES AND TRIBUTES World mourns passing of Andrew Graham-Yooll SCreensHots generalised and globalised reign correspondent for The Guardian mother and Scottish father, he was also walking juxtaposition, many obituaries outpouring of emotion and during the 1982 Malvinas War. In their perfectly bilingual. When he spoke Spa- pointed out. support followed the news of obituary, Hugh Thompson characterised nish, he had his hometown’s distinctive “Although he had a Scottish accent the passing of Andrew Gra- him thusly: Italian-influenced porteño accent; when throughout his life, he was keenly aware ham-YoollA on July 6, 2019 in London. “A quiet, modest and self-deprecating he spoke English, there was a slight and of his outsider status in Britain. In the As beloved and respected journalist, man when speaking English, he could very gentle Scots lilt.” 1980s he gave up daily journalism to edit author, translator, and poet, Andrew’s become far more passio- In local daily Cla- South, a periodical on the Third World story made its way into some of the most nate in Spanish: I once rín, Andrew’s return owned by a Pakistani publisher,” conti- prestigious publications in the English- saw him cry when he Andrew’s story made to Argentina during nued The Telegraph piece.